Durban - eThekwini Municipality citizens found to have tampered with their water meters or having illegal connections will soon face 12 months without water if they are caught out by the city.
This unprecedented move by the eThekwini council resulted in a heated debate during a meeting at the Tongaat Town Hall on Thursday.
The ruling party agreed with the recommendation, which was made in a report by the human settlement and infrastructure committee, as a way to curb illegal connections and reduce the use of non-revenue water.
The DA and Minority Front, however, argued that it was unconstitutional to deny families access to water for a year.
Only after 12 months would a person whose connection was removed because of tampering be permitted to apply for another water connection.
“It is believed that the inconvenience experienced by going for 12 months without water, and having to make payment of a full connection fee again for the second time, will be sufficient punishment to discourage people from tampering,” read the report.
Those who wish to apply for debt relief will also only be able to do so after 12 months, and they will still have to pay the reconnection fee.
The DA called for this recommendation to be amended, saying it infringed on the basic right of access to water.
“Is the city planning to provide all those people with communal standpipes? And what are the financial implications of putting those up?” asked DA councillor Heinz de Boer.
He said while his party supported the fight against illegal connections, it strongly believed also that the move was “punishment for poor families who don’t have the means to pay”.
“Yes, those who are stealing water when they can afford to pay must be dealt with harshly, but this will hit hard on the poor,” said De Boer, who recommended a fine instead of a year without water.
This was supported by the MF, but the parties were out-voted by the ANC and IFP, who both argued that people had responsibility to pay for services.
Deputy mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said the policy would not apply to those who were declared indigent.
“The DA is misleading the public.
“The clauses they want amended target repeat offenders who are continuously stealing water.”
ANC councillor Nigel Gumede, the chairman of the Human Settlement and Infrastructure committee, said those whose work had been terminated and who could no longer afford to pay for water should report their financial situation to the city.
“We support this because officials came up with a clear programme to deal with non-revenue water. It will help us avoid unqualified audit reports,” said IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi.
De Boer said they would take the matter to their national office for further investigation.
SA Human Rights Commission spokesman Isaac Mangena said the municipality had a responsibility to engage communities before implementing this recommendation.
The Mercury